Virtuous: The Untold Story of the Good Witch of the North

This story will look at the other side of G(a)linda's life, the life that was not seen in either Wicked: the Untold Story of the Witches of OZ or Wicked: the Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West

This story will look at the other side of G(a)linda's life, the life that was not seen in either Wicked: the Untold Story of the Witches of OZ or Wicked: the Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. While writing this story, I will be pulling from anything and everything in the OZ universe, be it the Maguire's novel, the musical, or Baum's novel, if you as a reader need clarification, please feel free to ask. The story begins in the Pertha Hills near the Northern most Gillikin city of Frottica. Galinda is 18 and it is only a few months before her departure to Shiz

Chapter 1: Beginnings and Bubbles

Galinda Arduenna stood on her balcony overlooking the estate that she had been raised on. It was relatively large compared to most in the area; it even had a small village within the walls where the paid servants lived.

The reason for this seemingly innocent watch was that she was watching for the arrival of her pledged fiancé, who would be returning home after spending the school year at Shiz University.

Galinda had applied to the University as soon as she had turned of age and had been simply thrilled to shreds when an official looking carriage had delivered her acceptance package. She had been accepted into the Political Studies as her primary area, but had not received any notice as to whether or not she had procured a spot in the headmistress's Sorcery Seminar. Galinda had always dreamt of training to be a powerful sorceress with political skills, just like the Glorious Wizard of OZ.

Just as she drifted off into thrillfying fantasies of years to come, there was a commotion in the courtyard announcing the arrival of a carriage.

Galinda walked gracefully down the stairs, making sure to check that her composure was still in tacked, she momentarily admired her choice in clothes for the afternoon's festivities: a crème colored knee-length dress, cut diagonally across with pearl insets, a pale pink silk scarf and crème colored stilettos, her hair was done up in curls and she had a small tiara perched atop her perfect blonde head. She walked out into the courtyard and stood waiting for the carriage to make it up the drive.

As Galinda watched the carriage come to a creaky halt, she took a deep breath, she had never really liked the idea of the whole arranged marriage thing, and even less so because of the man that she was being forced to marry. Galinda was acting as a bargaining chip for more money and influence in the Emerald City. Galinda watched with a fixed smile on her face as her fiancé climbed out of the carriage.

Braeden Westinbergh was not a bad looking man, at the ripe age of 22; he was tall with light brown flowing hair. His muscular definition was accentuated by his tailored clothing; he had just graduated from Shiz University with a degree in History. And it was not that she didn't love him, she did, it was just that she did not like being forced to love someone. One of the perks, however, was that he is the son of a Margreave. The Margreave of the Ttica's, in fact. This included Settica, Wittica, and of course Frottica: making Braeden's father, a direct line to Emerald City.

Galinda had been pledged to Braeden ever since she could remember; she had been sent to spend the past 4 falls at his family's estate near Mount Runcible, while Braeden had been at Shiz. She had been taught the etiquette, the duties, the composure, and the mannerisms of a Margreavess. Galinda hadn't minded those things as much; it was after all, in her blood. It had been the overbearing Margreavess herself that had been as much a problem as any.

Galinda curtsied and extended her hand to her future husband, who in turn, bowed and took her hand, kissing it lightly before she spoke.

"Dearest, I have missed you so. I have been standing on the balcony watching for your arrival."

"How wonderful…"

"Its good to see me isn't it?"

"Oh… yes. I have missed you terribly darling, and I'm sure that you missed me as well"

She forced herself to keep her smile in place; it had been an acquired skill, stemming from her mother. She never could understand why Braeden always seemed so distant, she always, always, gave the relationship everything. But he always seemed like his was rehearsed.

"Shall we go in? I think that Fritz should have lunch ready." Galinda said, with her fixed smile in place. "My cousin Anabella from Ev is here to stay the month. I hope that you don't mind her visit coinciding with yours."

He didn't say anything, but had a strange smile on his face, which she chose to ignore. Galinda's heels clicked down the hall. The couple found Galinda's parents and Anabella already seated at the table in the dining room. Anabella was everything opposite of Galinda. She had straight black hair and pale skin and rosy red lips. Her face was narrow and had an exotic beauty to it, while Galinda was a traditional beauty. As Galinda kissed her mother on both cheeks and sat down across from Braeden, she nodded at Anabella, they had never been on the best of terms because they usually competed for attention at most Gillikin social gatherings. Just as Galinda took a bite of her salad, her mother cleared her throat.

"Galinda dear, your father has something that he would like to tell you."

"Yes dearest, darlingest popsicle?"

"Well your mother and I as well as Braeden's parents have decided that Braeden and you should be married next week, as opposed to after you graduate from Shiz."

Galinda was shocked though she would never show it. What of all the preparations to be made? What of all her plans? Her ambitions?

"Well isn't that simply too good of you. I am utterly too honored that you find me ready for such a huge responsibility as being a wife and a Margreavess."

"We had hoped that you would feel the same way that your mother and I did."

Galinda continued to smile as she finished her lunch.

"Braeden, would you care to escort me on a walk around the grounds?"

"Actually, I am feeling rather tired after my trip."

"Of course, how silly of me. Anabella? What about you?"

"I was actually going to stay in for the afternoon, possibly write a letter to my mother."

"How positively too good of you to be so thoughtful."

Galinda proceeded to excuse herself from the table and walked out to one of the numerous fountains; she sat down and watched the grounds keepers work on the various flowerbeds. She smiled as she watched everyone go about their business as usual, but suddenly she was overcome with emotion and began to cry.

Later that evening as she was brushing her hair, getting ready for bed, she sat crying. She had always gotten her way. Her parents had always let her have her way, and to find out that a huge decision such as this had been made without consulting her was rather insulting. She wiped away her tears just as a knock came at her door. She rose from her seat at the make-up table and walked to the door.

"Who is it?"

"Galinda darling it's Braeden. May I come in?"

"I am not decent to entertain company, especially not the son of a Margreave or my future husband."

She said it with the finality that she knew would hurt his pride; however she didn't feel up to facing him alone, not after the news that her opinion meant nothing. Just as she turned away, another set of knockings occurred, more persistent this time.

"Galinda I had nothing to do with any of this. I was just as surprised as you were."

"Well that is wonderful news; the two parties involved have no say in any of this."

"Please let me in."

Galinda walked to the door and opened it, allowing the young man into her suite. She showed him to a pink winged arm chair and sat down across from him. There was only silence as Galinda sat staring out the window; Braeden however broke the silence first.

"We don't have to do this you know. We could fight it."

"Fight what dearest? Our breeding? Our very inner selves? I think not, it would be too scandalicious and besides I couldn't be happier with the situation."

There was something he wasn't telling her. She could tell, but she couldn't read it, so she did as she always did and chose to ignore it. After another silence, in which Braeden began to say something several times but didn't, he got up and kissed her on the cheek bidding her good night Galinda escorted him out of her suite and turned out her light. She then proceeded to try to go to sleep, however her mind was reeling. She decided that a breath of fresh air would do her some good so she walked out to her balcony. She looked out over the dark estate, when her attention was drawn by two figures walking beneath her window. One of them was obviously female because at that moment she laughed. As they came into the lights surrounding a fountain, she saw that from the dark hair that the woman was Anabella, and she couldn't believe her eyes, but the man with her was Braeden. She wondered what they were doing on a midnight stroll through the grounds when everything became suddenly clear when the pair kissed.

Galinda stood there in shock, how could this be happening. Suddenly a feeling deep in the pit of her stomach arose. She had never felt anything like it, she felt jealous, but this was a little more than any normal jealousy. Her face flushed and she felt a tingle in her finger, the diamond ring on her finger began to emit pink sparks. There were sudden burst of light as bubbles formed out of thin air and began to shower down around her and the entire courtyard; she had just noted that they were obviously feeding off of her shear jealousy, when they began to explode rather violently. Galinda ducked in cover and ran back into her room, as she closed the door she couldn't help but laugh and marvel at herself, the bubbles had been surrounding the two "love bird" when they had begun to explode, so she was sure that she had given the two quite a scare. Galinda stayed up the remainder of the night trying to reproduce the bubbles, with no success.

The entire Braeden fiasco had been settled up in a matter of a week. Galinda had come out on top of the entire affair; she had confronted Braeden the very next day at the engagement ball. Galinda had dressed as normal, a lovely bubble gum pink gown with rare pink sapphire accents. The ball was opened by a dance of the couple. As Braeden held her close she whispered in his ear, "I know, fix it, or I will."

After the dance, Galinda put her arm on his as he escorted her to the table where she took up her glass.

"I think that Braeden has something that he would like to tell everyone."

"Ummm… yes, well that is to say… I well… I would like to call off the engagement. I am in love with another woman."

Gasps ensued from most of the social elite at the party. It was unthinkable for a Margreave-to-be to have an affair even before the marriage had begun. Galinda rose delicately from her chair and looked at the room at large.

"If you all will excuse me, I have a slight headache; I think that I need to lie down."

With that Galinda had went up to her room, but not before accomplishing one final act of revenge. Braeden drank from his glass and felt a tingling sensation in his nether region, later he found that she had placed a shrinking solution in his drink.

The next morning, Galinda woke early and decide it was essential to look as though nothing had happened. She walked to her vanity and began to apply make-up and do her hair, after several minutes of work she saw in the mirror someone standing behind her and was surprised to see Anabella standing in the doorway.

"Good morning dearest, how did you sleep last night? Did you enjoy the rest of the ball?"

"How could you Galinda?"

"How could I what, dearest?"

Anabella shut the door and walked in to the greater part of the room.

"Expose Braeden like that, in front of Gillikin's elite. He will never be able to live it down."

"And you aren't one bit concerned about yourself?"

"What could you possibly do to me? As you know, I've been in Ev for the past few years as the Royal Sorceress's apprentice."

"You would be surprised Anabella."

"Are you threatening me? Your favorite cousin?"

"Dearest, you are my only cousin. And what of you? Does stealing my fiancé fall under the 'favorite cousin' act?"

"How could anyone resist me? Especially over you."

Galinda kept her smile fixed in place but was already mulling over what could be done to make Anabella pay for her treachery.

After a few days of negotiations from both parties, Galinda would retain every gift that had been given; including, the engagement ring, which had been in the Westinbergh family for nearly 200 years, as well as the dowry; she also would receive the rights to the Margreave's governmental residence in the Emerald City upon the death of the Margreave. All of this had been outlined in the engagement contract that had been drawn up upon the finalization of the engagement several years ago. Galinda was very pleased by the entire ordeal because her now least favorite cousin Anabella and her family were shunned from Pertha Hills and the Upper Uplands, Lord Hampton had received an order directly from the Glorious Wizard of OZ to report the Emerald City, where he would be made Consul of swampy Quadling Country, Anabella was to report there as well. This had all been made possible by Galinda making a quick request for her mother to pull her influence in the City and secure Lord and Lady Hampton the position, which had opened up due to the former Consul dying of a swamp plague. Little did she realize, but the marginalization of Anabella would come back around full force later in life.